Signs and Symptoms of Lead Poisoning in Birds

Despite their enviable ability to fly away from harm, birds are not immune to lead poisoning. For most birds, the consumption of lead is a slow-acting death sentence.

  1. General Symptoms

    • According to the Northern Wildlife Research Center, the vocalizations of a lead-poisoned bird sound thin and rattle weakly. On occasion, a yellow liquid drips from the bill. The proventriculus bulges out more than normal, and the bird's thin, watery feces take on a greenish color.

    Effect on Movement

    • Lead-poisoned birds experience lessened movement due to the gradual paralysis of the muscles. The tips of the wings drag on the ground, float limply on the water surface, and eventually weaken so much that the bird cannot fly. In time, the bird will no longer be able to walk.

    Effect on Weight

    • Waterfowl that experience acute lead poisoning do not lose much weight before death. The bird dies so quickly, there is not time for the bird to waste away. However, those experiencing chronic lead poisoning can lose up to 60 percent of their body weight before succumbing to death. This effect increases during mild temperatures.

    Other Effects

    • The lining of the gizzard will appear dark, pitted, and decayed, causing some birds to vomit periodically. More severe cases involve blindness, seizures, and blood-tinged urine. Some birds become very thirsty and are found drinking water more often than usual.

    Common Sources of Lead Poisoning

    • Perhaps the greatest culprit of lead poisoning is lead shot eaten by birds. According to Avian Web, other sources of lead include lead paint chips, stained glass windows, twist-ties, dyed cardboard boxes, fishing sinkers, batteries, linoleum, solder, and glazed lamps.